What's in your Cosmetics?

I have always had a love for cosmetics, getting my hair cut and awesome smelling skin care cosmetics. I recall being a young girl and trying my mother's make-up as all young girls do.  One particular brand has been in my mother's medicine cabinet for as long as I can remember and became one of my favorites as an adult.

It never occured to me how those cosmetics were made or what ingredients they contained. I always just thought about the end result and how it made me feel. After a conversation with my sister, it occurred to me that I should begin reading labels and learn what I was putting into my body and on my skin.

In my research, I found Mineral Oil was in a great deal of the cosmetics and skin care products we consume here in the United States. Baby oil, sun screen lotion, hand lotion, skin cleansers, facial lotions, a paraffin dip (at the salon).... just to name a few.

Mineral oil or liquid petrolatum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline. Oh my! I might as well be slathering my skin with the gasoline that I put in my car. YUCK!  Mineral oil is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes (typically 15 to 40 carbons) and cyclic paraffins, related to white petroleum. Mineral oil is a substance of relatively low value, and its produced in a very large quantities. Mineral oil is available in light and heavy grades, and can often be found in drug stores.

Ok, so I've described a science project in detail but what are the effects of Mineral oil?

1. Mineral oil masks itself as Estrogen. Making women Estrogen Dominant, which throws off our hormone levels causing many side effects such as: Depression, weight gain, thyroid problems, breast cancer. etc.

2. Mineral oil blocks the pores from releasing toxins. Toxins are then found in lymphoid and breast tissue of breast cancer patients.

3. Mineral oil blocks the skin from ever receiving moisture, thus your skin will be dry each day.

4. A 1996 John Hopkins study list Mineral oil as the #2 cause of aging.

WOW, all those skin creams I have been slathering on my skin may actually be causing me to age? Take a look at the ingredients of your skin care and personal care products. Do they contain mineral oil???

All Arbonne products are formulated without mineral oil. They are formulated in Switzerland where mineral oil is illegal to use in beauty products.

Contact me to schedule a class to learn about our safe, pure and beneficial products that I know you will fall in LOVE with! Look good and feel good knowing you are putting something on your skin that is good for you! I did and am so glad I have found Arbonne! Contact me at 608-234-8304.

How are you taking care of yourself?

You'll note that I have been neglecting the blog and that is for so many reasons but wanted to fill you in on a new market strategy that A White Dress Affair will be be pursuing. As you prepare for your big wedding day, besides all the details, what else are you worrying about? Yup, health and wellness.... your skin, makeup, weight, hair, etc.

I, too, have been there worrying about my weight, skin, makeup, and hair and have a passion for helping those with their overall health and wellness. On your wedding day, you want to look your very best! As of September 1, I have taken on the role of Indepedent Arbonne Consultant. And I am very excited to represent this company for so many reasons.

Arbonne is a highly regarded, premium brand with a Swiss heritage. The products are healthy, botanically based and inspired by nature. Truth be old, I have been a skin care and cosmetic fanatic for many years and fell in love with these products just before my July wedding.

If you'd consider allowing me to share with you the Arbonne experience, I think you too will fall in LOVE with these products.  Feel free to email me at kristy@awhitedressaffair.com  or call 608-234-8304 to schedule your appointment.

Coordinating your theme

My hope with every client is to build a relationship with them. I mean, after all, we do choose to work together on one of the most important days of your life. I enjoy finding out what makes them tick, what their hobbies and passions are, what their favorite colors are. I especially enjoy making friends with my clients and vendors, for me that is one of the best things about this business - the people!

By choosing our Something Blue, concept design package, we choose colors and themes and take design ideas to the next level. We get to work incorporating your theme with your reception location, save the dates, invitations, placecards, table linens, favors and additional decor items so, in the end, we clearly have a complete look that you are happy with.

Take for instance, your love for biking, vibrant pinks and blues. Let us create your storyboard and see what ideas come into play. It's the greatest way to see for yourself how things will look when they all come together.

Call us to today to schedule your inital consultation and let us help you with the creative process.

Storyboard created by The Dressy Group including Pantone Colors, Ann Taylor Dresses, and Nedrebo's Formal Wear

Winter wonderland photos

Are you having a spring or summer wedding? Have you thought of having your engagement photos taken in the winter? I know, I know... its cold outside, the snow is wet and dirty in places. But just think of what a beautiful backdrop clean, white snow is.

 

Aren't these the most romantic photos you have ever seen? Bill and I are having Karrn Frost take our photos next week in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan and I am so excited!

Now to decide what to wear.  Forest green, red, burgandy. Mmm, warm earthy colors that will appear vibrant in your photos. Furry boots are a must have, yes, I know its trendy but oh so fun!

The most important tip I can give you is to have FUN, enjoy yourselves, forget the camera (and the cold) and play like a kid again. Dress warm, wear your hat and mittens and allow the talented photographer to get some great shots of you and your beloved. Build a snowman, make snow angels, hold each other close and tell him that you love him! Enjoy the season and each other.

If your still looking for a talented photographer, check the blog for Links we Love and you'll find several that do fabulous work. Or call us and we'll chat about your needs.

Photos courtesy of the web: #1, Carden Photography. #2, realphotography. #3, Title Nine. #4, Earth snowboots